Márquez happy to stick with Barça

FC Barcelona have secured the services of defender Rafael Márquez for a further two years after the 30-year-old Mexican international agreed terms on an improved deal until 2012.

New dealMárquez joined Barça in the summer of 2003 from AS Monaco FC and made his 150th Liga appearance earlier this season. A key figure under Frank Rijkaard and then Josep Guardiola, he played in the Catalan side's UEFA Champions League final win over Arsenal FC in 2006. He was troubled by injury last term, however, and missed the UEFA champions League and Copa del Rey finals as well as the Liga run-in as Barcelona clinched the treble. Following further injury problems this term, he has been kept on the sidelines by the fine form of central pair Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol.

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